System, devices and/or processes for processing infrared pixel values

ABSTRACT

Example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, techniques to process pixel values sampled from a multi color channel imaging device. In particular, methods and/or techniques to process pixel samples for non-visible light from pixels allocated to detection of infrared light are disclosed.

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 63/253,778 titled “SYSTEM, DEVICES AND/ORPROCESSES FOR PROCESSING INFRARED PIXEL VALUES,” filed on Oct. 8, 2021,assigned to the assignee of claimed subject matter, and incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates generally to image processing devices.

Information

An imaging device formed on or in combination with an integrated circuitdevice typically includes an array of pixels formed by filters disposedover photo detectors (e.g., photo diodes formed in a complementary metaloxide semiconductor device) in a Bayer pattern. Such a Bayer patterntypically implements three color channels for red, blue and greenvisible light. Imaging devices based on a Bayer pattern pixel array havebeen modified to include a fourth color channel for non-visible infraredlight to enable particular night imaging applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Claimed subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctlyclaimed in the concluding portion of the specification. However, both asto organization and/or method of operation, together with objects,features, and/or advantages thereof, it may best be understood byreference to the following detailed description if read with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an imaging device that defines fourcolor channels including an infrared channel according to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of an imaging device that defines threecolor channels in a so-called Bayer, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a system to process raw pixel valuessampled from an imaging device that defines four color channelsincluding an infrared channel according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a process to compute a grey componentof an image according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system to implement a kernel tointerpolate pixel values of an image, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a process to apply a correction to aninterpolated pixel value, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a system to interpolate a value of aninfrared pixel based on an inter-channel correlation, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plot illustrating a correction to a visual light pixel valueto account for contributions from infrared light, according to anembodiment;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams of system apply corrections toclipped pixel values, according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 9A through 9G depict a processing of image signal values at edgesof an image frame according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a computing system, according to anembodiment.

Reference is made in the following detailed description to accompanyingdrawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals may designatelike parts throughout that are corresponding and/or analogous. It willbe appreciated that the figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale, such as for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration. Forexample, dimensions of some aspects may be exaggerated relative toothers. Further, it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized. Furthermore, structural and/or other changes may be madewithout departing from claimed subject matter. References throughoutthis specification to “claimed subject matter” refer to subject matterintended to be covered by one or more claims, or any portion thereof,and are not necessarily intended to refer to a complete claim set, to aparticular combination of claim sets (e.g., method claims, apparatusclaims, etc.), or to a particular claim. It should also be noted thatdirections and/or references, for example, such as up, down, top,bottom, and so on, may be used to facilitate discussion of drawings andare not intended to restrict application of claimed subject matter.Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken tolimit claimed subject matter and/or equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

References throughout this specification to one implementation, animplementation, one embodiment, an embodiment, and/or the like meansthat a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the likedescribed in relation to a particular implementation and/or embodimentis included in at least one implementation and/or embodiment of claimedsubject matter. Thus, appearances of such phrases, for example, invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarilyintended to refer to the same implementation and/or embodiment or to anyone particular implementation and/or embodiment. Furthermore, it is tobe understood that particular features, structures, characteristics,and/or the like described are capable of being combined in various waysin one or more implementations and/or embodiments and, therefore, arewithin intended claim scope. In general, of course, as has always beenthe case for the specification of a patent application, these and otherissues have a potential to vary in a particular context of usage. Inother words, throughout the disclosure, particular context ofdescription and/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding reasonableinferences to be drawn; however, likewise, “in this context” in generalwithout further qualification refers at least to the context of thepresent patent application.

In some implementations, an image signal processor (ISP) may be designedto process signals in 2×2 repeating patterns—such as the 2×2 RGGB Bayerpattern and 2×2 RGBIr patterns. Blocks in such an ISP may rely on apattern repeating every two pixels and may be unable to process pixelvalues in a 4×4 RGBIr pattern (e.g., as in FIG. 1A). According to anembodiment, a 4×4 RGBIr signal pattern may be remosaiced into a 2×2Bayer pattern (e.g., as in FIG. 1B) to include IR-corrected pixelvalues. While pixels of a green channel may themselves be present atsame locations, a remosaic block may nonetheless include modification sothat green pixel values account for infrared contributions.

Particular embodiments described herein are directed to, among otherthings, a 4×4 RGBIR to 2×2 Bayer remosaic operation, proportionalinfrared correction, proportional clipping management, an improvedtechnique for infrared interpolation, blurring of infrared pixel valuesprior to application of infrared correction.

Imaging devices formed in integrated circuit devices may include asubstrate formed as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)device having formed thereon an array of photodiodes that are responsiveto impinging light energy. In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1B, lightfilters or “masks” may be formed over such photodiodes to form red, blueand green pixels of a so-called Bayer pattern pixel array. In anembodiment, energy collected at such photodiodes may be sampled asvoltage and/or current samples that express and/or represent anintensity of light of particular color frequency bands at particularpixel locations over an exposure interval (e.g., frame).

Sensitivity of such a three-color channel imaging device may be limitedto detection of visible light in red, blue and green bands. Accordingly,such a three-color channel imaging device may have limited effectivenessin night and/or low lit environments. According to an embodiment, aBayer pattern imaging device may be modified to include pixels dedicatedto detection of infrared light to implement a fourth color channel ofinvisible light energy as shown in FIG. 1A. Such an imaging device maycomprise any one of a number of commercially available imaging devicessuch as, for example, the Omnivision OV4682 having a 2×2 RGBIr pattern,Omnivision OV2744 or OnSemi AR0237 having a 4×4 RGBIr pattern. In aparticular implementation, pixel energy detected in these four colorchannels for red, blue, green and infrared pixels may be processed insuch a manner to support imaging based on visible light as well as tosupport applications that employ infrared detection in non-visiblebands. In one particular example, image pixel samples obtained from afour-color channel pixel array (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1A) may betransformed to express image pixel samples in an arrangement accordingto a three-channel Bayer pattern. This may enable use of legacyprocessing techniques to process image pixel samples obtained from afour-color channel pixel array for visible light imaging.

According to an embodiment, some imaging processing operations performedon image signal values generated from at a pixel array shown in FIG. 1Amay employ pixel values that fall outside of the pixel array (e.g., asapplied close to edges of an image frame). FIGS. 9A through 9Gillustrate operations to fill missing image signal values at edges of animage frame according to an embodiment. In a particular implementation,operations illustrated in FIGS. 9A through 9G may be performed prior toadditional image processing operations shown in FIGS. 2 , for example.FIG. 9A shows generated image signal intensity values missing two rowsat a top edge and three rows at a side edge. As shown in FIG. 9B, twomissing top rows are filled by mirroring values in fourth and fifth rowsfrom the top. FIG. 9C then shows copying of pixel values in fifth, sixthand seventh columns from the right in FIG. 9B to fill first, second andthird columns.

In the particular embodiment of FIG. 9A, the third row from the top (thefirst row of usable pixel values) has a sequence of red, blue and greenpixel values as B/G/R/G/B . . . . In the particular embodiment of FIG.9D, on the other hand, the third row from the top (the first row ofusable pixel values) has a sequence of green and infrared (IR) asG/IR/G/IR/G . . . . While operations shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C may besimilarly applied to pixel values shown in FIG. 9D (as operations shownin FIGS. 9E and 9F), pixel values in columns do not align with theoriginal pattern. For example, a second column from the left in FIG. 9Fis G/B/G/B/G/R instead of the original pattern G/R/G/B/G/R. Thus, in theparticular embodiment of FIG. 9D, additional operations may be performedas illustrated in FIG. 9G to shift pixel values in the second row to theright by two pixel positions to provide a resulting pattern withedge-filled pixels conforming to an original pattern shown in FIG. 9D.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a system 200 to process raw pixelvalues sampled from an imaging device that defines four color channelsincluding an infrared channel according to an embodiment. In one aspect,system 200 may perform color interpolation, infrared pixel valueinterpolation and/or clipping management. In a particularimplementation, features of system 200 may be implemented, in whole orin part, on an integrated circuit device. Such an integrated circuitdevice may also include and/or be integrated with an imaging device (notshown) to provide image pixel samples for four color channels such asillustrated in FIG. 1A, for example. Raw data 202 may supply as inputsignals as image pixel samples obtained from a four-color channelimaging device (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1A). As output signals, system200 may provide Bayer 2×2 output 206, uncorrected Bayer 2×2 output 208,and IR output 204. According to an embodiment, Bayer 2×2 output 206and/or uncorrected Bayer 2×2 output 208 may be formatted for processingusing legacy methods and/or techniques for processing image pixelsvalues generated by a three-color channel imaging device.

According to an embodiment, accuracy and/or usefulness of Bayer 2×2output 206 and/or IR output 204 may be enhanced with application ofinterpolation and/or correction techniques. In one aspect as describedherein, features of such interpolation and/or correction techniques maybe implemented in circuitry of system 200 that occupies only a smallportion of transistors implementing system 200.

According to an embodiment, a process to remosaic to a 2×2 Bayer patternmay employ location-dependent kernels to interpolate missing pixelvalues. In a particular implementation, an interpolation methodperformed by IR interpolation 216 and/or red/blue interpolation 218 mayinclude, for example, detecting direction in multiple possibledirections fag vertical/horizontal and diagonal), interpolating inspecific directions determining a strongest direction detection responseand strongest neighbor response, blending between strongest response andits neighbor and/or blending between isotropic interpolation andresulting directional interpolation. If a strongest direction detectionresponse is almost the same as a strongest neighbor response, forexample, blending may be performed at a 50:50 ratio. If a strongestdirection detection response is significantly larger than a strongestneighbor response, blending may be weighted accordingly to enable smoothtransitions with a limited number of directions.

According to an embodiment, false color correction 232 may blend a greycomponent of an image with interpolated pixel values corrected for aninfrared contribution. Such a grey component may be computed as lineargrey 266, at least in part, according to process 250 shown in FIG. 2B.In the particular implementation of process 250, a grey component of rawdata 202 may be computed and/or isolated by processing at block 254 toextract a green component, followed by application of a Bayer invariantfilter at block 256. It should be understood, however, that this ismerely an example of how a grey component may be computed and/orisolated, and claimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.Here, weights based on inverse white balance coefficients may be appliedto an output of IR correction 260 to provide a linearized grey output266. For example, inverse white balance weights wb_inv_r, wb_inv_g andwb_inv_b may be stored in an array (not shown) and selected atmultiplexer 262 for application to IR corrected red or blue pixel valuesprovided by IR correction 260.

Another particular implementation of an interpolation technique that maybe performed by IR interpolation 216 and/or red/blue interpolation 218is shown in system 300. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system 300 toprovide an example implementation of a technique at least a portion ofIR interpolation 216 and/or red/blue interpolation 218. FIG. 4 is a flowdiagram of a process 350 to apply a correction to pixel valueinterpolated based on infrared pixel values. In a particularimplementation, block 352 may perform an interpolation of a blue or redpixel value such as at block 218. According to an embodiment, IRcorrection 228 and/or IR correction 230 may apply corrections tointerpolated red and blue interpolated pixel values (provided byred/blue interpolation 218) based, at least in part, on interpolatedinfrared (IR) pixel values (provided by IR interpolation 216).

In this context, a “pixel value” as referred to herein means a valueand/or parameter that represents an intensity level associated with aparticular location of a pixel in an image. Such a pixel value may beassociated with a particular light channel such as, for example,infrared light or visible light (e.g., red, blue or green light). In aparticular implementation, a pixel value associated with a particularlight channel may be expressed in a particular vector and/or datastructure along with other pixel values associated with a particularpixel location in an image.

According to an embodiment, image pixels formed in an imaging device mayhave a limited dynamic range in that energy collected over an exposureinterval may saturate physical photodetectors (e.g., formed asphotodiodes). As such, red and blue interpolated pixel values may belimited to a maximum value (e.g., due to photodetector saturation) andtherefore be “clipped” to such a maximum value if an actual pixel valueexceeds the maximum value. Even if a pixel value of a particular pixeldoes not exceed such a maximum pixel value (e.g., is not clipped), sucha pixel value may be interpolated based, at least in part, on pixelvalues that are clipped.

According to an embodiment, IR correction 228 and/or IR correction 230may apply a correction at block 354 to an interpolated red or blue pixelvalue based, at least in part, on interpolated infrared pixel values.Such a correction may comprise a subtraction of a correction value froman uncorrected, interpolated red or blue pixel value. In a particularimplementation, such a correction value to be subtracted from such aninterpolated red or blue pixel value may be computed based, least inpart, on a relative weight of clipped infrared pixel values. Forexample, such a correction value (to be subtracted from an uncorrected,interpolated red or blue pixel value) may be reduced according to arelative weight of magnitudes of clipped infrared pixel values that areemployed in a process to interpolate a red or blue pixel value. In aparticular implementation, infrared pixel values applied to determinesuch an interpolated red or blue pixel value may be “blurred” prior touse in computation of a correction value to be subtracted. This may, forexample, reduce resulting artifacts and/or improve overall imagequality.

According to an embodiment, IR correction 228 and/or 230 may compute acorrection value based, at least in part, on values defining a clippingmask and interpolation coefficients. Such a correction value may becomputed, for example, according to expression (1) as follows:

Correction=1−conv(clipping mask,interpolation coefficients),  (1)

where:

clipping_mask is a matrix of values indicating a degree to which a pixelhas been clipped; and

interpolation_coefficients is a matrix of values representing values ina kernel.

In a particular numerical example below,

${{InterpolationKernel} = {\begin{bmatrix}1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\end{bmatrix} \times \frac{1}{4}}},{{ClippingMask} = \begin{bmatrix}0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0\end{bmatrix}},{{a{resulting}{correction}{proportion}} = 1.}$

If only one top corner of pixel is clipped, a clipping mask may beexpressed as follows:

${{ClippingMask} = \begin{bmatrix}1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0\end{bmatrix}},{{a{resulting}{correction}{proportion}} = {3/4.}}$

According to an embodiment, high resolution IR interpolation 220 mayapply a bandpass filter to green and IR pixel sample values to exploitinter-channel correlation to enable a more accurate and/or higherquality IR output 204. High resolution IR interpolation 220 may beimplemented, in whole or in part, using features of system 400 shown inFIG. 5 . IR interpolation 220 may set pixel sample values for red andblue pixels to a zero and/or null value. In a particular implementationmask 404 and/or mask 406 may be implemented, at least in part, usingmultiplexer circuits. In particular implementations, system 400 mayreduce a number of operations of a Bayer invariant filter 414 in that atleast a portion of inputs are zero if only a subset of channels is used.

According to an embodiment, filter operation 418 may determine acorrection to be applied to interpolated IR pixel values at adder 416.Such a correction may be based, at least in part, on a convolution of a3×3 kernel applied to green pixel sample values provided by mask 406. Inthis context, a “kernel” as referred to herein means a set of organizedparameters of a convolution operation to be applied to one or more imagesignal values expressing an image, such as color intensity valuesassociated with pixel locations in the image, to impart a particularintended effect to the image. Such an intended effect may comprise, forexample, blurring, sharpening, embossing, feature detection/extraction(e.g., edge detection), just to provide a few examples. In a particularimplementation, a kernel may comprise an ordered array of values (e.g.,coefficients in a fixed or floating point format) tailored forapplication to image signal intensity values of a particulardimensionality such as dimensions corresponding to color intensityvalues and/or pixel location. A 3×3 kernel may be expressed, forexample, as a matrix K of cross-correlation coefficients a, b and c asfollows:

$K = \begin{matrix}a & b & a \\b & c & b \\a & b & a\end{matrix}$

A convolution at block 418 may be determined according to expression (2)as follows:

correction=K*D,  (2)

where:

*is a convolution operation; and

D is a matrix of values based, at least in part, on green pixel samplevalues as follows:

$D = {\begin{matrix}{a1} & {a2} & {a3} \\{a4} & {a5} & {a6} \\{a7} & {a8} & {a9}\end{matrix}.}$

It may be observed that that is based, at least in part, on inherentproperties (e.g., symmetry) of the 3×3 kernel to be applied by Bayerinvariant filter 414 a value for cross-correlation coefficient c inmatrix D may be expressed in terms of cross-correlation coefficients aand b according to expression (3) as follows:

c=−4(a+b)  (3)

As such, computation of a value for correction may be reduced to acomputation using only two multiplication operations according toexpression (4) as follows:

correction=a×(a1+a3+a7+a9)+b×(a2+a4+a6+a8)+c×a5

correction=a×(a1+a3+a7+a9)+b×(a2+a4+a6+a8)−4×(a+b)a5

correction=a×(a1+a3+a7+a9−4a5)+b×(a2+a4+a6+a8−4a5).  (4)

According to an embodiment, values for ir_cross_filter_a and ifcross_filter_b may be implemented as values for coefficients a and b,respectively. Additionally, an output value for block 418 to be combinedwith an output value for bilinear interpolation 408, may be determinedbased, at least in part, a computed value for correction as perexpression (4). In some implementations, IR correction may be applied tointerpolated red, blue and/or green pixel values that have been clipped(cutoff at and/or reduced to a maximum value). As such, application ofan IR correction at IR correction 228 and/or IR correction 230 mayovercorrect such clipped pixel values, possibly resulting in dark halosaround edges of a reproduced image. One technique to correct this effectmay include implementation of clipping masks for visible color pixelsaround edges. FIG. 6 is a plot illustrating a correction to be appliedto a pixel value for a visual color channel to account for contributionsof intensity from infrared light, according to an embodiment. Such acorrection may be applied to interpolated red, blue and/or green pixelvalues at IR correction 228 and/or IR correction 230, for example. In animplementation, such corrections applied to interpolated red, blueand/or green pixel values may be expressed as a decrease in intensity toaccount for erroneous contributions of IR light energy. If such aninterpolated red, blue and/or green pixel value is clipped prior toapplication of a correction at IR correction 228 or IR correction 230,for example, such a correction may overcorrect such a clippedinterpolated pixel value to a lower intensity value. This may result,for example, in dark halos around edges of a reproduced image. Forexample, it may be observed that IR correction on clipped pixels mayresult in an intensity drop and, as such, a simple mask may introducedark halos around edges. This may be at least partially addressed withproportional IR correction. In a particular implementation, brightnessmay be smoothly changed between non-clipped to clipped pixels. In oneembodiment, IR correction may be applied to non-clipped pixels, but maynot be applied to clipped pixels. By re-normalizing pixel values, adifference between before and correction may be relatively small toreturn an overall image closer to its brightness before correction.

In an alternative technique, according to an embodiment, such anovercorrected clipped interpolated pixel value may be renormalized toValue_(Out) according to expression (5) as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{{Value}_{Out} = {\frac{{Value}_{{In}({corrected})}}{{Value}_{max} - {Ir}} \times {Value}_{max}}},{{where}:{Value}_{{In}({corrected})}{is}{an}{overcorrected}{clipped}}}{{{interpolated}{pixel}{value}};}{{Value}_{max}{is}a{maximum}{value}{that}{may}{be}{assumed}{for}}{{{an}{interpolated}{pixel}{value}};{and}}{{Ir}{is}a{linearized}{interpolated}{infrared}{pixel}{values}{\left( {{e.g.},{{output}{signal}{of}{block}224},{{{FIG}.2}A}} \right).}}} & (5)\end{matrix}$

According to an embodiment, features of expression (5) may beimplemented in circuitry according to system 600 shown in FIG. 7 . Itmay be appreciated that implementation of a divider operation 604 may becomputationally costly in terms of a number of transistors to implementdivider 604 and/or in terms of power consumption. In an alternativeembodiment, a renormalized value Value_(Out) may be approximated using aTaylor series expansion to eliminate use of such a divider. Clippingmanagement 234 may implement such an approximation for using all or aportion of circuit features of system 700 shown in FIG. 8 . Computationsperformed by system 600 may be expressed according to expression (6) asfollows

raw_linear_(new)=raw_linear_(old)+raw_linear_(old)(s2+s3),  (6)

where:

s1=IR_linear×IR_linear: (e.g., output signal of multiplier 706);

s2=s1+IR_linear: (e.g., output signal of adder 712);

s3=s1s2: (e.g., output signal of multiplier 708).

In one embodiment, operations performed by system 700 may be carried outusing floating point arithmetic. For example, multiplication circuits706, 708 and/or 710 may implement shift registers to carry outmultiplication operations. According to an embodiment, values forIR-corrected linear raw 602/702 and/or values for linear IR 604/704 maycomprise values that are proportional to an amount of incident light(e.g., intensity, number of photons, etc.). In one particularimplementation, values for IR-corrected linear raw 602/702 and/or valuesfor linear IR 604/704 may be an increasing function of (e.g.,substantially proportional to) a square root of an amount of incidentlight. Certain operations, such as interpolation, may be applied to sucha square root of an amount of incident light. According to anembodiment, input signals for IR-corrected linear 602/702 and/or linearIR 604/704 may, at least in part, be provided by false color correction232, which may receive an input signal from false colour detection 214.

According to an embodiment systems 200, 300, 400, 600 and/or 700 may beformed by and/or expressed in transistors and/or lower metalinterconnects (not shown) in processes (e.g., front end-of-line and/orback-end-of-line processes) such as processes to form complementarymetal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry, just as an example. Itshould be understood, however that this is merely an example of howcircuitry may be formed in a device in a front end-of-line process, andclaimed subject matter is not limited in this respect.

It should be noted that the various circuits disclosed herein may bedescribed using computer aided design tools and expressed (orrepresented), as data and/or instructions embodied in variouscomputer-readable media, in terms of their behavioral, registertransfer, logic component, transistor, layout geometries, and/or othercharacteristics. Formats of files and other objects in which suchcircuit expressions may be implemented include, but are not limited to,formats supporting behavioral languages such as C, Verilog, and VHDL,formats supporting register level description languages like RTL, andformats supporting geometry description languages such as GDSII, GDSIII,GDSIV, CIF, MEBES and any other suitable formats and languages. Storagemedia in which such formatted data and/or instructions may be embodiedinclude, but are not limited to, non-volatile storage media in variousforms (e.g., optical, magnetic or semiconductor storage media) andcarrier waves that may be used to transfer such formatted data and/orinstructions through wireless, optical, or wired signaling media or anycombination thereof. Examples of transfers of such formatted data and/orinstructions by carrier waves include, but are not limited to, transfers(uploads, downloads, e-mail, etc.) over the Internet and/or othercomputer networks via one or more data transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP,FTP, SMTP, etc.).

If received within a computer system via one or more machine-readablemedia, such data and/or instruction-based expressions of the abovedescribed circuits may be processed by a processing entity (e.g., one ormore processors) within the computer system in conjunction withexecution of one or more other computer programs including, withoutlimitation, net-list generation programs, place and route programs andthe like, to generate a representation or image of a physicalmanifestation of such circuits. Such representation or image maythereafter be used in device fabrication, for example, by enablinggeneration of one or more masks that are used to form various componentsof the circuits in a device fabrication process (e.g., wafer fabricationprocess).

In the context of the present patent application, the term “between”and/or similar terms are understood to include “among” if appropriatefor the particular usage and vice-versa. Likewise, in the context of thepresent patent application, the terms “compatible with,” “comply with”and/or similar terms are understood to respectively include substantialcompatibility and/or substantial compliance.

For one or more embodiments, system 200 may be implemented in a device,such as a computing device and/or networking device, that may comprise,for example, any of a wide range of digital electronic devices,including, but not limited to, desktop and/or notebook computers,high-definition televisions, digital versatile disc (DVD) and/or otheroptical disc players and/or recorders, game consoles, satellitetelevision receivers, cellular telephones, tablet devices, wearabledevices, personal digital assistants, mobile audio and/or video playbackand/or recording devices, Internet of Things (IoT) type devices,in-vehicle electronics or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), orany combination of the foregoing. Further, unless specifically statedotherwise, a process as described, such as with reference to flowdiagrams and/or otherwise, may also be executed and/or affected, inwhole or in part, by a computing device and/or a network device. Adevice, such as a computing device and/or network device, may vary interms of capabilities and/or features. Claimed subject matter isintended to cover a wide range of potential variations. For example, adevice may include a numeric keypad and/or other display of limitedfunctionality, such as a monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD) fordisplaying text, for example. In contrast, however, as another example,a web-enabled device may include a physical and/or a virtual keyboard,mass storage, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, globalpositioning system (GPS) and/or other location-identifying typecapability, and/or a display with a higher degree of functionality, suchas a touch-sensitive color 2D or 3D display, for example.

In the context of the present patent application, the term “connection,”the term “component” and/or similar terms are intended to be physicalbut are not necessarily always tangible. Whether or not these termsrefer to tangible subject matter, thus, may vary in a particular contextof usage. As an example, a tangible connection and/or tangibleconnection path may be made, such as by a tangible, electricalconnection, such as an electrically conductive path comprising metal orother conductor, that is able to conduct electrical current between twotangible components. Likewise, a tangible connection path may be atleast partially affected and/or controlled, such that, as is typical, atangible connection path may be open or closed, at times resulting frominfluence of one or more externally derived signals, such as externalcurrents and/or voltages, such as for an electrical switch. Non-limitingillustrations of an electrical switch include a transistor, a diode,etc. However, a “connection” and/or “component,” in a particular contextof usage, likewise, although physical, can also be non-tangible, such asa connection between a client and a server over a network, particularlya wireless network, which generally refers to the ability for the clientand server to transmit, receive, and/or exchange communications, asdiscussed in more detail later.

In a particular context of usage, such as a particular context in whichtangible components are being discussed, therefore, the terms “coupled”and “connected” are used in a manner so that the terms are notsynonymous. Similar terms may also be used in a manner in which asimilar intention is exhibited. Thus, “connected” is used to indicatethat two or more tangible components and/or the like, for example, aretangibly in direct physical contact. Thus, using the previous example,two tangible components that are electrically connected are physicallyconnected via a tangible electrical connection, as previously discussed.However, “coupled,” is used to mean that potentially two or moretangible components are tangibly in direct physical contact.Nonetheless, “coupled” is also used to mean that two or more tangiblecomponents and/or the like are not necessarily tangibly in directphysical contact, but are able to co-operate, liaise, and/or interact,such as, for example, by being “optically coupled.” Likewise, the term“coupled” is also understood to mean indirectly connected. It is furthernoted, in the context of the present patent application, since memory,such as a memory component and/or memory states, is intended to benon-transitory, the term physical, at least if used in relation tomemory necessarily implies that such memory components and/or memorystates, continuing with the example, are tangible.

Unless otherwise indicated, in the context of the present patentapplication, the term “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B, orC, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, aswell as A, B, or C, here used in the exclusive sense. With thisunderstanding, “and” is used in the inclusive sense and intended to meanA, B, and C; whereas “and/or” can be used in an abundance of caution tomake clear that all of the foregoing meanings are intended, althoughsuch usage is not required. In addition, the term “one or more” and/orsimilar terms is used to describe any feature, structure,characteristic, and/or the like in the singular, “and/or” is also usedto describe a plurality and/or some other combination of features,structures, characteristics, and/or the like. Likewise, the term “basedon” and/or similar terms are understood as not necessarily intending toconvey an exhaustive list of factors, but to allow for existence ofadditional factors not necessarily expressly described.

It is further noted that the terms “type” and/or “like,” if used, suchas with a feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like, using“optical” or “electrical” as simple examples, means at least partiallyof and/or relating to the feature, structure, characteristic, and/or thelike in such a way that presence of minor variations, even variationsthat might otherwise not be considered fully consistent with thefeature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like, do not in generalprevent the feature, structure, characteristic, and/or the like frombeing of a “type” and/or being “like,” (such as being an “optical-type”or being “optical-like,” for example) if the minor variations aresufficiently minor so that the feature, structure, characteristic,and/or the like would still be considered to be substantially presentwith such variations also present. Thus, continuing with this example,the terms optical-type and/or optical-like properties are necessarilyintended to include optical properties. Likewise, the termselectrical-type and/or electrical-like properties, as another example,are necessarily intended to include electrical properties. It should benoted that the specification of the present patent application merelyprovides one or more illustrative examples and claimed subject matter isintended to not be limited to one or more illustrative examples;however, again, as has always been the case with respect to thespecification of a patent application, particular context of descriptionand/or usage provides helpful guidance regarding reasonable inferencesto be drawn.

The term electronic file and/or the term electronic document are usedthroughout this document to refer to a set of stored memory statesand/or a set of physical signals associated in a manner so as to therebyat least logically form a file (e.g., electronic) and/or an electronicdocument. That is, it is not meant to implicitly reference a particularsyntax, format and/or approach used, for example, with respect to a setof associated memory states and/or a set of associated physical signals.If a particular type of file storage format and/or syntax, for example,is intended, it is referenced expressly. It is further noted anassociation of memory states, for example, may be in a logical sense andnot necessarily in a tangible, physical sense. Thus, although signaland/or state components of a file and/or an electronic document, forexample, are to be associated logically, storage thereof, for example,may reside in one or more different places in a tangible, physicalmemory, in an embodiment.

In the context of the present patent application, the terms “entry,”“electronic entry,” “document,” “electronic document,” “content”,“digital content,” “item,” and/or similar terms are meant to refer tosignals and/or states in a physical format, such as a digital signaland/or digital state format, e.g., that may be perceived by a user ifdisplayed, played, tactilely generated, etc. and/or otherwise executedby a device, such as a digital device, including, for example, acomputing device, but otherwise might not necessarily be readilyperceivable by humans (e.g., if in a digital format). Likewise, in thecontext of the present patent application, digital content provided to auser in a form so that the user is able to readily perceive theunderlying content itself (e.g., content presented in a form consumableby a human, such as hearing audio, feeling tactile sensations and/orseeing images, as examples) is referred to, with respect to the user, as“consuming” digital content, “consumption” of digital content,“consumable” digital content and/or similar terms. For one or moreembodiments, an electronic document and/or an electronic file maycomprise a Web page of code (e.g., computer instructions) in a markuplanguage executed or to be executed by a computing and/or networkingdevice, for example. In another embodiment, an electronic documentand/or electronic file may comprise a portion and/or a region of a Webpage. However, claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited inthese respects.

Also, for one or more embodiments, an electronic document and/orelectronic file may comprise a number of components. As previouslyindicated, in the context of the present patent application, a componentis physical, but is not necessarily tangible. As an example, componentswith reference to an electronic document and/or electronic file, in oneor more embodiments, may comprise text, for example, in the form ofphysical signals and/or physical states (e.g., capable of beingphysically displayed). Typically, memory states, for example, comprisetangible components, whereas physical signals are not necessarilytangible, although signals may become (e.g., be made) tangible, such asif appearing on a tangible display, for example, as is not uncommon.Also, for one or more embodiments, components with reference to anelectronic document and/or electronic file may comprise a graphicalobject, such as, for example, an image, such as a digital image, and/orsub-objects, including attributes thereof, which, again, comprisephysical signals and/or physical states (e.g., capable of being tangiblydisplayed). In an embodiment, digital content may comprise, for example,text, images, audio, video, and/or other types of electronic documentsand/or electronic files, including portions thereof, for example.

Also, in the context of the present patent application, the term“parameters” (e.g., one or more parameters), “values” (e.g., one or morevalues), “symbols” (e.g., one or more symbols) “bits” (e.g., one or morebits), “elements” (e.g., one or more elements), “characters” (e.g., oneor more characters), “numbers” (e.g., one or more numbers), “numerals”(e.g., one or more numerals) or “measurements” (e.g., one or moremeasurements) refer to material descriptive of a collection of signals,such as in one or more electronic documents and/or electronic files, andexist in the form of physical signals and/or physical states, such asmemory states. For example, one or more parameters, values, symbols,bits, elements, characters, numbers, numerals or measurements, such asreferring to one or more aspects of an electronic document and/or anelectronic file comprising an image, may include, as examples, time ofday at which an image was captured, latitude and longitude of an imagecapture device, such as a camera, for example, etc. In another example,one or more parameters, values, symbols, bits, elements, characters,numbers, numerals or measurements, relevant to digital content, such asdigital content comprising a technical article, as an example, mayinclude one or more authors, for example. Claimed subject matter isintended to embrace meaningful, descriptive parameters, values, symbols,bits, elements, characters, numbers, numerals or measurements in anyformat, so long as the one or more parameters, values, symbols, bits,elements, characters, numbers, numerals or measurements comprisephysical signals and/or states, which may include, as parameter, value,symbol bits, elements, characters, numbers, numerals or measurementsexamples, collection name (e.g., electronic file and/or electronicdocument identifier name), technique of creation, purpose of creation,time and date of creation, logical path if stored, coding formats (e.g.,type of computer instructions, such as a markup language) and/orstandards and/or specifications used so as to be protocol compliant(e.g., meaning substantially compliant and/or substantially compatible)for one or more uses, and so forth.

Signal packet communications and/or signal frame communications, alsoreferred to as signal packet transmissions and/or signal frametransmissions (or merely “signal packets” or “signal frames”), may becommunicated between nodes of a network, where a node may comprise oneor more network devices and/or one or more computing devices, forexample. As an illustrative example, but without limitation, a node maycomprise one or more sites employing a local network address, such as ina local network address space. Likewise, a device, such as a networkdevice and/or a computing device, may be associated with that node. Itis also noted that in the context of this patent application, the term“transmission” is intended as another term for a type of signalcommunication that may occur in any one of a variety of situations.Thus, it is not intended to imply a particular directionality ofcommunication and/or a particular initiating end of a communication pathfor the “transmission” communication. For example, the mere use of theterm in and of itself is not intended, in the context of the presentpatent application, to have particular implications with respect to theone or more signals being communicated, such as, for example, whetherthe signals are being communicated “to” a particular device, whether thesignals are being communicated “from” a particular device, and/orregarding which end of a communication path may be initiatingcommunication, such as, for example, in a “push type” of signal transferor in a “pull type” of signal transfer. In the context of the presentpatent application, push and/or pull type signal transfers aredistinguished by which end of a communications path initiates signaltransfer.

Thus, a signal packet and/or frame may, as an example, be communicatedvia a communication channel and/or a communication path, such ascomprising a portion of the Internet and/or the Web, from a site via anaccess node coupled to the Internet or vice-versa. Likewise, a signalpacket and/or frame may be forwarded via network nodes to a target sitecoupled to a local network, for example. A signal packet and/or framecommunicated via the Internet and/or the Web, for example, may be routedvia a path, such as either being “pushed” or “pulled,” comprising one ormore gateways, servers, etc. that may, for example, route a signalpacket and/or frame, such as, for example, substantially in accordancewith a target and/or destination address and availability of a networkpath of network nodes to the target and/or destination address. Althoughthe Internet and/or the Web comprise a network of interoperablenetworks, not all of those interoperable networks are necessarilyavailable and/or accessible to the public. According to an embodiment, asignal packet and/or frame may comprise all or a portion of a “message”transmitted between devices. In an implementation, a message maycomprise signals and/or states expressing content to be delivered to arecipient device. For example, a message may at least in part comprise aphysical signal in a transmission medium that is modulated by contentthat is to be stored in a non-transitory storage medium at a recipientdevice, and subsequently processed.

In the context of the particular patent application, a network protocol,such as for communicating between devices of a network, may becharacterized, at least in part, substantially in accordance with alayered description, such as the so-called Open Systems Interconnection(OSI) seven layer type of approach and/or description. A networkcomputing and/or communications protocol (also referred to as a networkprotocol) refers to a set of signaling conventions, such as forcommunication transmissions, for example, as may take place betweenand/or among devices in a network. In the context of the present patentapplication, the term “between” and/or similar terms are understood toinclude “among” if appropriate for the particular usage and vice-versa.Likewise, in the context of the present patent application, the terms“compatible with,” “comply with” and/or similar terms are understood torespectively include substantial compatibility and/or substantialcompliance.

A network protocol, such as protocols characterized substantially inaccordance with the aforementioned OSI description, has several layers.These layers are referred to as a network stack. Various types ofcommunications (e.g., transmissions), such as network communications,may occur across various layers. A lowest level layer in a networkstack, such as the so-called physical layer, may characterize howsymbols (e.g., bits and/or bytes) are communicated as one or moresignals (and/or signal samples) via a physical medium (e.g., twistedpair copper wire, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, wireless airinterface, combinations thereof, etc.). Progressing to higher-levellayers in a network protocol stack, additional operations and/orfeatures may be available via engaging in communications that aresubstantially compatible and/or substantially compliant with aparticular network protocol at these higher-level layers. For example,higher-level layers of a network protocol may, for example, affectdevice permissions, user permissions, etc.

In one example embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 , a system embodiment maycomprise a local network (e.g., device 1804 and medium 1840) and/oranother type of network, such as a computing and/or communicationsnetwork. For purposes of illustration, therefore, FIG. 10 shows anembodiment 1800 of a system that may be employed to implement eithertype or both types of networks. Network 1808 may comprise one or morenetwork connections, links, processes, services, applications, and/orresources to facilitate and/or support communications, such as anexchange of communication signals, for example, between a computingdevice, such as 1802, and another computing device, such as 1806, whichmay, for example, comprise one or more client computing devices and/orone or more server computing device. By way of example, but notlimitation, network 1808 may comprise wireless and/or wiredcommunication links, telephone and/or telecommunications systems, Wi-Finetworks, Wi-MAX networks, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), awide area network (WAN), or any combinations thereof.

Example devices in FIG. 10 may comprise features, for example, of aclient computing device and/or a server computing device, in anembodiment. It is further noted that the term computing device, ingeneral, whether employed as a client and/or as a server, or otherwise,refers at least to a processor and a memory connected by a communicationbus. A “processor” and/or “processing circuit” for example, isunderstood to connote a specific structure such as a central processingunit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), graphics processing unit(GPU) and/or neural network processing unit (NPU), or a combinationthereof, of a computing device which may include a control unit and anexecution unit. In an aspect, a processor and/or processing circuit maycomprise a device that fetches, interprets and executes instructions toprocess input signals to provide output signals. As such, in the contextof the present patent application at least, this is understood to referto sufficient structure within the meaning of 35 USC § 112 (f) so thatit is specifically intended that 35 USC § 112 (f) not be implicated byuse of the term “computing device,” “processor,” “processing unit,”“processing circuit” and/or similar terms; however, if it is determined,for some reason not immediately apparent, that the foregoingunderstanding cannot stand and that 35 USC § 112 (f), therefore,necessarily is implicated by the use of the term “computing device”and/or similar terms, then, it is intended, pursuant to that statutorysection, that corresponding structure, material and/or acts forperforming one or more functions be understood and be interpreted to bedescribed at least in FIG. 2A through FIG. 9G and in the text associatedwith the foregoing figure(s) of the present patent application.

Referring now to FIG. 10 , in an embodiment, first and third devices1802 and 1806 may be capable of rendering a graphical user interface(GUI) for a network device and/or a computing device, for example, sothat a user-operator may engage in system use. Device 1804 maypotentially serve a similar function in this illustration. Likewise, inFIG. 10 , computing device 1802 (‘first device’ in figure) may interfacewith computing device 1804 (‘second device’ in figure), which may, forexample, also comprise features of a client computing device and/or aserver computing device, in an embodiment. Processor (e.g., processingdevice) 1820 and memory 1822, which may comprise primary memory 1824 andsecondary memory 1826, may communicate by way of a communication bus1815, for example. The term “computing device,” in the context of thepresent patent application, refers to a system and/or a device, such asa computing apparatus, that includes a capability to process (e.g.,perform computations) and/or store digital content, such as electronicfiles, electronic documents, measurements, text, images, video, audio,etc. in the form of signals and/or states. Thus, a computing device, inthe context of the present patent application, may comprise hardware,software, firmware, or any combination thereof (other than software perse). Computing device 1804, as depicted in FIG. 10 , is merely oneexample, and claimed subject matter is not limited in scope to thisparticular example. FIG. 10 may further comprise a communicationinterface 1830 which may comprise circuitry and/or devices to facilitatetransmission of messages between second device 1804 and first device1802 and/or third device 1806 in a physical transmission medium overnetwork 1808 using one or more network communication techniquesidentified herein, for example. In a particular implementation,communication interface 1830 may comprise a transmitter device includingdevices and/or circuitry to modulate a physical signal in physicaltransmission medium according to a particular communication formatbased, at least in part, on a message that is intended for receipt byone or more recipient devices. Similarly, communication interface 1830may comprise a receiver device comprising devices and/or circuitrydemodulate a physical signal in a physical transmission medium to, atleast in part, recover at least a portion of a message used to modulatethe physical signal according to a particular communication format. In aparticular implementation, communication interface may comprise atransceiver device having circuitry to implement a receiver device andtransmitter device.

For one or more embodiments, a device, such as a computing device and/ornetworking device, may comprise, for example, any of a wide range ofdigital electronic devices, including, but not limited to, desktopand/or notebook computers, high-definition televisions, digitalversatile disc (DVD) and/or other optical disc players and/or recorders,game consoles, satellite television receivers, cellular telephones,tablet devices, wearable devices, personal digital assistants, mobileaudio and/or video playback and/or recording devices, Internet of Things(IoT) type devices, or any combination of the foregoing. Further, unlessspecifically stated otherwise, a process as described, such as withreference to flow diagrams and/or otherwise, may also be executed and/oraffected, in whole or in part, by a computing device and/or a networkdevice. A device, such as a computing device and/or network device, mayvary in terms of capabilities and/or features. Claimed subject matter isintended to cover a wide range of potential variations. For example, adevice may include a numeric keypad and/or other display of limitedfunctionality, such as a monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD) fordisplaying text, for example. In contrast, however, as another example,a web-enabled device may include a physical and/or a virtual keyboard,mass storage, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, GNSSreceiver and/or other location-identifying type capability, and/or adisplay with a higher degree of functionality, such as a touch-sensitivecolor 5D or 3D display, for example.

In FIG. 10 , computing device 1802 may provide one or more sources ofexecutable computer instructions in the form physical states and/orsignals (e.g., stored in memory states), for example. Computing device1802 may communicate with computing device 1804 by way of a networkconnection, such as via network 1808, for example. As previouslymentioned, a connection, while physical, may not necessarily betangible. Although computing device 1804 of FIG. 10 shows varioustangible, physical components, claimed subject matter is not limited toa computing devices having only these tangible components as otherimplementations and/or embodiments may include alternative arrangementsthat may comprise additional tangible components or fewer tangiblecomponents, for example, that function differently while achievingsimilar results. Rather, examples are provided merely as illustrations.It is not intended that claimed subject matter be limited in scope toillustrative examples.

Memory 1822 may comprise any non-transitory storage mechanism. Memory1822 may comprise, for example, primary memory 1824 and secondary memory1826, additional memory circuits, mechanisms, or combinations thereofmay be used. Memory 1822 may comprise, for example, random accessmemory, read only memory, etc., such as in the form of one or morestorage devices and/or systems, such as, for example, a disk driveincluding an optical disc drive, a tape drive, a solid-state memorydrive, etc., just to name a few examples.

Memory 1822 may be utilized to store a program of executable computerinstructions. For example, processor 1820 may fetch executableinstructions from memory and proceed to execute the fetchedinstructions. Memory 1822 may also comprise a memory controller foraccessing device readable-medium 1840 that may carry and/or makeaccessible digital content, which may include code, and/or instructions,for example, executable by processor 1820 and/or some other device, suchas a controller, as one example, capable of executing computerinstructions, for example. Under direction of processor 1820, anon-transitory memory, such as memory cells storing physical states(e.g., memory states), comprising, for example, a program of executablecomputer instructions, may be executed by processor 1820 and able togenerate signals to be communicated via a network, for example, aspreviously described. Generated signals may also be stored in memory,also previously suggested.

Memory 1822 may store electronic files and/or electronic documents, suchas relating to one or more users, and may also comprise acomputer-readable medium that may carry and/or make accessible content,including code and/or instructions, for example, executable by processor1820 and/or some other device, such as a controller, as one example,capable of executing computer instructions, for example. As previouslymentioned, the term electronic file and/or the term electronic documentare used throughout this document to refer to a set of stored memorystates and/or a set of physical signals associated in a manner so as tothereby form an electronic file and/or an electronic document. That is,it is not meant to implicitly reference a particular syntax, formatand/or approach used, for example, with respect to a set of associatedmemory states and/or a set of associated physical signals. It is furthernoted an association of memory states, for example, may be in a logicalsense and not necessarily in a tangible, physical sense. Thus, althoughsignal and/or state components of an electronic file and/or electronicdocument, are to be associated logically, storage thereof, for example,may reside in one or more different places in a tangible, physicalmemory, in an embodiment.

Algorithmic descriptions and/or symbolic representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the signal processingand/or related arts to convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. An algorithm is, in the context of the presentpatent application, and generally, is considered to be a self-consistentsequence of operations and/or similar signal processing leading to adesired result. In the context of the present patent application,operations and/or processing involve physical manipulation of physicalquantities. Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities maytake the form of electrical and/or magnetic signals and/or statescapable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, processedand/or otherwise manipulated, for example, as electronic signals and/orstates making up components of various forms of digital content, such assignal measurements, text, images, video, audio, etc.

It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of commonusage, to refer to such physical signals and/or physical states as bits,values, elements, parameters, symbols, characters, terms, samples,observations, weights, numbers, numerals, measurements, content and/orthe like. It should be understood, however, that all of these and/orsimilar terms are to be associated with appropriate physical quantitiesand are merely convenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise,as apparent from the preceding discussion, it is appreciated thatthroughout this specification discussions utilizing terms such as“processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining”, “establishing”,“obtaining”, “identifying”, “selecting”, “generating”, and/or the likemay refer to actions and/or processes of a specific apparatus, such as aspecial purpose computer and/or a similar special purpose computingand/or network device. In the context of this specification, therefore,a special purpose computer and/or a similar special purpose computingand/or network device is capable of processing, manipulating and/ortransforming signals and/or states, typically in the form of physicalelectronic and/or magnetic quantities, within memories, registers,and/or other storage devices, processing devices, and/or display devicesof the special purpose computer and/or similar special purpose computingand/or network device. In the context of this particular patentapplication, as mentioned, the term “specific apparatus” thereforeincludes a general purpose computing and/or network device, such as ageneral purpose computer, once it is programmed to perform particularfunctions, such as pursuant to program software instructions.

In some circumstances, operation of a memory device, such as a change instate from a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versa, for example, maycomprise a transformation, such as a physical transformation. Withparticular types of memory devices, such a physical transformation maycomprise a physical transformation of an article to a different state orthing. For example, but without limitation, for some types of memorydevices, a change in state may involve an accumulation and/or storage ofcharge or a release of stored charge. Likewise, in other memory devices,a change of state may comprise a physical change, such as atransformation in magnetic orientation. Likewise, a physical change maycomprise a transformation in molecular structure, such as fromcrystalline form to amorphous form or vice-versa. In still other memorydevices, a change in physical state may involve quantum mechanicalphenomena, such as, superposition, entanglement, and/or the like, whichmay involve quantum bits (qubits), for example. The foregoing is notintended to be an exhaustive list of all examples in which a change instate from a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versa in a memorydevice may comprise a transformation, such as a physical, butnon-transitory, transformation. Rather, the foregoing is intended asillustrative examples.

Referring again to FIG. 10 , processor 1820 may comprise one or morecircuits, such as digital circuits, to perform at least a portion of acomputing procedure and/or process. By way of example, but notlimitation, processor 1820 may comprise one or more processors, such ascontrollers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, application specificintegrated circuits, digital signal processors (DSPs), graphicsprocessing units (GPUs), neural network processing units (NPUs),programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, the like, orany combination thereof. In various implementations and/or embodiments,processor 1820 may perform signal processing, typically substantially inaccordance with fetched executable computer instructions, such as tomanipulate signals and/or states, to construct signals and/or states,etc., with signals and/or states generated in such a manner to becommunicated and/or stored in memory, for example.

FIG. 10 also illustrates device 1804 as including a component 1832operable with input/output devices, for example, so that signals and/orstates may be appropriately communicated between devices, such as device1804 and an input device and/or device 1804 and an output device. A usermay make use of an input device, such as a computer mouse, stylus, trackball, keyboard, and/or any other similar device capable of receivinguser actions and/or motions as input signals. Likewise, for a devicehaving speech to text capability, a user may speak to a device togenerate input signals. A user may make use of an output device, such asa display, a printer, etc., and/or any other device capable of providingsignals and/or generating stimuli for a user, such as visual stimuli,audio stimuli and/or other similar stimuli.

In the preceding description, various aspects of claimed subject matterhave been described. For purposes of explanation, specifics, such asamounts, systems and/or configurations, as examples, were set forth. Inother instances, well-known features were omitted and/or simplified soas not to obscure claimed subject matter. While certain features havebeen illustrated and/or described herein, many modifications,substitutions, changes and/or equivalents will now occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all modifications and/or changes as fallwithin claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining an interpolatedpixel value based, at least in part, on a plurality of infrared pixelvalues; and applying a correction to the interpolated pixel value based,at least in part, on relative magnitudes of one or more clippedinterpolated pixel values.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theinterpolated pixel value is unclipped.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinapplying the correction further comprises reducing a correction valuebased, at least in part, on the relative magnitudes.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein applying the correction to the interpolated pixel valuefurther comprises: blurring the interpolated clipped infrared pixelvalue; and subtracting a correction value from the blurred interpolatedclipped infrared pixel value.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theinterpolated pixel value is associated with an intensity in a red, blueor green color channel of a multi color channel imaging system.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, the method further comprising: renormalizing at leastsome of the corrected pixel values according to a maximum output valueof a multi color channel imaging device and amount of infraredcorrection in interpolated pixel.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinrenormalizing a corrected pixel value comprises approximating a ratio ofthe corrected pixel value to a normalization value using a Taylorseries.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein renormalizing a correctedpixel value comprises approximating a ratio of the corrected pixel valueto a normalization value based, at least in part, on application of aplurality of multiplication circuits independent of any divisioncircuits.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality ofmultiplication circuits are adapted to operate in a floating pointdomain, and wherein at least one of the multiplication circuitsimplements a multiplication operation using a shift register.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, and further comprising: determining an interpolatedinfrared pixel value based, at least in part, on raw pixel sample valuesobtained from a multi color channel imaging device and application of acorrection value, the correction value being computed based, at least inpart, on raw pixel values in one or more color channels other than aninfrared color channel according to a convolution of pixel values of oneof the one or more color channels with a 3×3 kernel, the convolutioncomprising application of two filter coefficients reduced from threecoefficients of the 3×3 kernel.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thetwo filter coefficients reduced from three coefficients of the 3×3kernel are selected from first and second coefficients of the 3×3kernel, and wherein a third coefficient of the 3×3 kernel is derivedfrom a linear combination of the first and second coefficients of the3×3 kernel.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the convolution furthercomprises application of a bandpass filter.
 13. The method of claim 10,wherein the raw pixel values are derived from a green channel of a multicolor channel imaging device.
 14. A device comprising: circuitry todetermine an interpolated pixel value based, at least in part, on aplurality of raw infrared pixel values; and circuitry to apply acorrection to the interpolated pixel value based, at least in part, onrelative magnitudes of two or more clipped interpolated infrared pixelvalues.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the interpolated pixel valueis unclipped.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein application of thecorrection to comprise a reduction in a correction value based, at leastin part, on the relative magnitudes.
 17. An article comprising: astorage medium comprising computer-readable instructions stored thereonthat are executable by one or more processors of a computing device to:determine an interpolated pixel value based, at least in part, on aplurality of infrared pixel values; and apply a correction to theinterpolated pixel value based, at least in part, on relative magnitudesof one or more clipped interpolated infrared pixel values.
 18. Thearticle of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further executable bythe one or more processors to: blur the interpolated clipped infraredpixel value; and subtract a correction value from the blurredinterpolated clipped infrared pixel value to at least in part apply thecorrection.
 19. The article of claim 17, wherein the interpolated pixelvalue is associated with an intensity in a red, blue or green colorchannel of a multi color channel imaging system.
 20. An articlecomprising: a non-transitory storage medium comprising computer-readableinstructions stored thereon that are executable by one or moreprocessors of a computing device to: express a circuit, to be formed ina circuit device, to determine an interpolated pixel value based, atleast in part, on a plurality of infrared pixel values; and express acircuit, to be formed in the circuit device, to apply a correction tothe interpolated pixel value based, at least in part, on relativemagnitudes of one or more clipped interpolated infrared pixel values.